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 Forum index » Instruments and Equipment » OSX as a music workstation
Recommendations for audio interface for a Macbook Pro
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cappy2112



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PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 8:53 pm    Post subject: Recommendations for audio interface for a Macbook Pro Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I've recently bough a MBP and have most of my music software & vsts loaded. Unfortunately, the Mac doesn't have any external audio inputs and only headphone outs.


I guess that means getting audio into and out of the Mac means it must be digitized first.

Are the headphone levels the same as line out levels?

What do you guys use? I"m not going to be producing and cd's so hobbyist-level gear is ok. 2 quarter-inch ins & 2 outs would be the minimum I need.

I'd rather avoid a rackmount box, and prefer something that can be portable.

Thanks

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blue hell
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 9:30 pm    Post subject: Re: Recommendations for audio interface for a Macbook Pro Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

cappy2112 wrote:
I've recently bough a MBP and have most of my music software & vsts loaded. Unfortunately, the Mac doesn't have any external audio inputs and only headphone outs.


On my MBP the mic input triples as mic, line, optic and the output triples as headphones, line, optic ... I think?

Actually it doesn't work too bad for whatever I throw at it.

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also .. could someone please turn down the thermostat a bit.
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cappy2112



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PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 9:42 pm    Post subject: Re: Recommendations for audio interface for a Macbook Pro Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Blue Hell wrote:
cappy2112 wrote:
I've recently bough a MBP and have most of my music software & vsts loaded. Unfortunately, the Mac doesn't have any external audio inputs and only headphone outs.


On my MBP the mic input triples as mic, line, optic and the output triples as headphones, line, optic ... I think?

Actually it doesn't work too bad for whatever I throw at it.


How can you use the mic input for anything other than the mic?
I was trying to record a webcast the other day using Audacity.
What I didn't realize was that the only wy I could get the mac to record that audio was to play it thru the speakers, nd record it thru the mic.
This picked up a lot of ambient noise in the office, and the audio sounded rather tinny.
I could't turn off the mic, nor could I select anything else as input.
I know Audacity is pretty cheesy software, but since I've just bought the mac I didn't know of anything else, and Audacity is free.

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blue hell
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 9:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

External mic input I meant (Built-in input).. go to Applications / Utilities / Audio MIDI Setup.app to configure stuff .. also install Soundflower for some extra flexibility.
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also .. could someone please turn down the thermostat a bit.
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-minus-



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PostPosted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Not sure if this helps....I just asked my son about this. He has a current macbook pro. His recommendation is a Presonus Firebox, which is what he uses and is pretty happy with.
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cappy2112



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PostPosted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

-minus- wrote:
Not sure if this helps....I just asked my son about this. He has a current macbook pro. His recommendation is a Presonus Firebox, which is what he uses and is pretty happy with.


Thanks

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PostPosted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Don't bother using Audacity. I know it's free, but it's also crap (IMHO). Amadeus Pro is a far superior wave editor. AP is also Mac only, so being built on Cocoa, takes full advantage of all of Apple's api's and technology.

As for interfaces, I've got an iMic, but then pretty much every interface works well with Macintosh. Smile

arrow http://www.hairersoft.com/AmadeusPro/AmadeusPro.html

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cappy2112



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PostPosted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

-minus- wrote:
Not sure if this helps....I just asked my son about this. He has a current macbook pro. His recommendation is a Presonus Firebox, which is what he uses and is pretty happy with.


Thanks

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cappy2112



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PostPosted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

v-un-v wrote:
Don't bother using Audacity. I know it's free, but it's also crap (IMHO). Amadeus Pro is a far superior wave editor. AP is also Mac only, so being built on Cocoa, takes full advantage of all of Apple's api's and technology.

As for interfaces, I've got an iMic, but then pretty much every interface works well with Macintosh. Smile

arrow http://www.hairersoft.com/AmadeusPro/AmadeusPro.html


Great, I'll take a look at these too.

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PostPosted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I have been finding AudioFinder very good as well: http://www.icedaudio.com/
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Yes, nice one Andy. I forgot all about Audiofinder. Very good software.
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 3:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I have a MOTU Ultralite Mk3 for my MBP. I got my kid a Microbook for his.

One's firewire, one's USB. Both seem to work fine.

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BobTheDog



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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 3:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

The Apogee Duet is meant to be top notch.
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I used to have a MOTU 828 which was great (but it's old school Firewire though). They still work I believe with new Macs (?), but I can't vouch for that because I sold it a few years back (2003!)
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IST NICHT FÜR GEWERKEN BEI DUMMKOPFEN. DER RUBBERNECKEN SIGHTSEEREN KEEPEN DAS COTTONPICKEN HÄNDER IN DAS POCKETS MUSS.
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